State-run Statistics Korea said the number of suicides per 100,000 South Koreans aged 15 to 24 stood at 11.4 in 2012, compared with 13 in 2011.
Suicide has been the leading cause of death among the age group since the mid-2000s, surpassing traffic accidents that caused 6.8 deaths per 100,000 in 2012.
The government has taken various measures to reduce the suicide rate, setting up hotlines, providing counselling and installing anti-suicide monitors on bridges.
Although such efforts appear to have had some impact, the rate still ranks highest among the 34 member nations of the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD).
Statistics Korea said more than 11 percent of those aged 13 to 24 confessed to having suicidal thoughts, with nearly 30 percent of those citing scholastic pressure.
By Ruchi Singh
reporter
Park Sae-jin
swatchsjp@ajunews.com
